Actually, it isn't really true! We now know (unlike Darwin who would have rejoiced to know what we now know!) that fossils in the PreCambrian are numerous and spread world-wide. But many are very small and not easily recognised or exist in specialised geologically circumstance, often preserved in relatively little-known places. Much PreCambrian rock is igneous, products of vulcanism, and obviously do not preserve fossils. But where suitable conditions prevailed, unusual fossils can be found are a the subject of a great deal of study. Many of the best preserved are where fine volcanic ash settled over the ancient seabed preserving the soft-bodied forms which were around 500-600ma ago.
Precambrian fossils may be found at several localities in UK (notably Charnwood Forest in Leicestershire), in Canada, Namibia, Russia, China and especially in Australia.
Precambrian is a geologic period that extends as back as 4.500 million years ago. Fossils are very rare from that period of time.
Abundant and diverse fossils first appeared in the Cambrian era, although there is fossil evidence throughout much of the Precambrian.
very little, there are stromatolites, domed mates of microscopic algae that are aged as precambrian. No other fossils in the precambrian
precambrian
20,000 b.c.
Stromatolites
The Precambrian Era is the longest era with the least amount of scientific information available. This is because so few fossils have been discovered.
Most rocks from that era are deeply buried.
One reason for the lack of Precambrian fossils is the soft-bodied nature of the organisms living during that time, which made preservation difficult. Additionally, geological processes like erosion and tectonic activity have destroyed many of the Precambrian rocks that could have contained fossils. Finally, the Precambrian era was a time of lower oxygen levels, which may have hindered the evolution of complex multicellular life forms that are more likely to fossilize.
Most rocks from that era are deeply buried.
Precambrian rocks contain relatively fewer fossils than rocks from different eras. This may be due to the fact that the rocks from this era were subject to a lot of heat and pressure, or were exposed to erosion.
The lack of hard parts in organisms during the Precambrian period is a factor that prevents us from finding fossils. The geological processes over time, including erosion and metamorphism, may have also destroyed many Precambrian fossils. Additionally, the scarcity of exposed Precambrian rocks due to tectonic activity can make it difficult to find these ancient fossils.
Precambrian history is more difficult to study because the rocks from this era have undergone significant alteration and destruction over billions of years, making them harder to interpret. Also, the lack of well-preserved fossils in Precambrian rocks makes it challenging to reconstruct ancient environments and ecosystems accurately. Additionally, the vast timescale of the Precambrian era poses difficulties in accurately dating events and establishing a precise chronology of geological events.
The Precambrian era is the longest geological era, spanning from about 4.6 billion years ago to 541 million years ago, but it is also the era with the least amount of detailed information available due to the lack of well-preserved rocks and fossils from that time period.
During the Precambrian times, life was mostly limited to single celled organisms. Life that was not single cellular didn't have any hard body part (like teeth, bones, shells, etc.) and so they weren't preserved.
stromatolites
Fossils are rare in Precambrian rocks primarily because the organisms that existed during this time were mostly simple, soft-bodied life forms, which are less likely to be preserved compared to hard-bodied organisms. Additionally, the geological processes that formed and altered Precambrian rocks often destroyed or obscured potential fossil evidence. Furthermore, the lack of widespread sedimentary environments suitable for fossilization during much of the Precambrian further contributed to the scarcity of fossils from this era.